Another waste of tax dollars

Wednesday

Feb 6, 2013 at 3:15 AMFeb 6, 2013 at 8:15 AM

Today, the governor's Executive Council is expected to waste approximately $3.6 million when the council gives a majority vote to a study of the Boston to Concord (New Hampshire, that is) rail corridor.

This same study was turned down by 3-2 vote when Republicans held every seat on the council, which decides the fate of most major state contracts.

The reasons for rejecting the contract were pretty straight forward then and haven't changed since. The only difference is that Democrats now control the council, and every indication is they will win the day and approve the study. Unfortunately, they will do so with no chance the study will be acted upon for the foreseeable future. There is no money now nor to be seen soon through anyone's crystal ball.

That means after the study is done and read it will be relegated to the state archives where it can collect dust. We wouldn't be surprised that when the issue is revisited in another decade or so, many will have forgotten the study was even done. And certainly any conclusions reached or recommendations made will have to be revetted at great cost.

You don't have to be for or against extended rail to fault the logic of doing the study. The time is simply inopportune.

Given all the strains on our state and federal budgets, it makes no sense to spend $3.6 million, plus or minus, on a rail study at this point in time. Imagine how much heating oil that could buy for low-income residents or the impact it could have on job training programs. And let's not forget the option of leaving the money in the pockets of taxpayers.

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And it's not like the issue has not already been studied.

According to the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, there are two other recent studies — in 2007 and 2010.

“Contrary to popular belief, reviving commuter rail in the state has twice been studied in depth in the past six years.” says policy analyst Josh Elliott-Traficante. “While not making recommendations either for or against rail, they do provide answers to most questions policymakers have.”

“Those studies have shown that restoring rail service to Concord would cost between $265 and $330 million. Rail service would also require subsidies of close to $11 million per year to remain solvent, as passenger fares would only cover between 30% and 50% of the operating expenses.”

As we indicated above, should there even be an inclining of desire to move ahead after this third study, “the state would still have to pay $22 million every biennium to keep the trains running.,” adds Elliott-Traficante. “With the constitutional ban on diverting state Gas Tax revenues to non-highway uses, the burden of those subsidies would likely fall on the General Fund.”

For those interested in more on the issue from Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, go to http://www.jbartlett.org/commuter-rail-in-new-hampshire